The 10 most common grammar mistakes in English German speakers make

English grammar is not always easy to understand, however it is an essential step in learning the language.

Needless to say that English is the most spoken language in the world – one-sixth of the world population to be precise. And yet English grammar, as beautiful and mysterious as it may be, gives learners a run for their money in terms of pure frustration. As a matter of fact, the German users of our online English course Gymglish are no exception to the rule.

Gymglish has carefully selected the 10 most common English grammar mistakes our German-speaking users have made over the past year. We’re not here to point fingers.*

1) The simple past tense (preterit)

This grammar rule is tricky for both native and non-native speakers. The simple past (the main past tense) expresses completed actions.

It is formed by adding -ed to the end of the verb, if the verb is regular.

Examples :

I washed the floor yesterday.
He talked to Horatio two hours ago.
If the verb is irregular, you need to learn the forms of the simple past and the past participle!

Some frequently-used irregular verbs :

Yesterday I found money on the floor. (to find)
Susie went to England last week. (to go)
We got up at 6 this morning. (to get)
Bruno came earlier. (to come)
Where did you buy this book? – I bought it on the internet. (to buy)

More on the simple past tense here.

2) The present perfect

Another pitfall for advanced English learners, the present perfect is no picnic. Construction of the present perfect is as follows: auxiliary verb have + past participle.

Examples :

I have lost my keys.
Bruno has decided to take a break.

We use the present perfect when:

•  The action occurs in an unfinished time period.

Examples :

I haven’t seen him lately. I haven’t seen him recently.
Everything has been alright so far. Everything has been alright up to now.

Sometimes the present perfect is used in the progressive form.

Example :

How long have you been living in San Francisco? – I have been living here for 10 years (or since 1999). Since when have you lived in San Francisco? I’ve lived here for 10 years (or since 1999).

•  The action is finished and we want to emphasize this fact, or it is still relevant to the present moment.

Example :

He’s (or He has) done his work. He has finished or completed his work.

Note : When there is an adverb (such as never, always, etc.), this is always placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.

Examples :

I have never been to San Francisco.
Susie has always dreamed of working in PR.

Going further on the present perfect here.

3) The auxiliary verb would

One of the trickiest rules in the book. The auxiliary verb would, used as a conditional, expresses a notion of willingness, acceptance or preference.

Examples:

I would buy a car if I could. If I were able to buy a car, I would buy one!
I would make an omelette if I had some eggs.
(had forms the past subjunctive)
What would you do in my position? If you were me, how would you act?
I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if we started dinner without them.
(started is in the past subjunctive here)

Would is used when we want to be polite.

Examples :

I would like some change please. (“would like” is a polite way to say “want”)
Would you like something to drink? Do you want something to drink?

It also allows us to express the future in a past sentence (would is the past of will).

Examples :

Bruno says he will come to the meeting. (he says it in the present)
Bruno said he would come to the meeting. (he said it in the past)

More on would here.

4) The present progressive

We couldn’t possibly establish a list of terrifying grammar rules without mentioning the present progressive now could we?

The present progressive (auxiliary verb be + verb ending in -ing) is used to express a current action, an action in progress or an unfinished action.

Example:

The children are sleeping right now.

It is often used for descriptions.

Examples:
Polly is wearing nice shoes today.
The jaguar is lying on a tree branch.

The present progressive also allows us to express a future action or an intention, mainly with the expression to be going to.

Examples :

We are going to count the votes this afternoon. We will count the votes this afternoon.

Are you going to accept the proposal? Will you accept the proposal? Do you plan to accept the proposal?

It can also be used with modal auxiliary verbs.

Example :

They should be sleeping by now.

The use of the present progressive is the opposite of that of the present simple, which is used:
•  for permanent truths (Christmas falls on December 25th.)
•  to express habits (Kevin plays golf every Saturday.)
•  for announcements (The President announces a tax increase.)

More on the present progressive here.

5) The interrogative form

The construction of the interrogative form is different if the verb is an auxiliary verb (be, have, will, can, etc.), or a ‘normal’ verb.

•  If the verb is an auxiliary verb, the interrogative is formed without the auxiliary do/does/did.

Examples :

Is Bruno in his office?
Can I talk to you?
Have you read this book?

•  If the verb is ‘normal’, the interrogative is formed with the auxiliary do/does/did. As always after an auxiliary verb, the verb is added in the infinitive without to.

Examples :

Do you like that album?
Did she see the movie?
Does Kevin drink alcohol?

In both cases, the sentence is formed by inverting the first auxiliary verb.

Examples :

She’s dreaming. -> Is she dreaming?
You would tell me. -> Would you tell me?

Note: The ‘normal’ verb to do is also conjugated with the auxiliary do/does/did.

Examples:

Did you do it?
Does he do his homework on time?

•  In the case of interrogatives introduced by pronouns (Who, What)

If the interrogative pronoun is a subject, there is no inversion:
Who told you this?
Who is here?

If the interrogative pronoun is an object, there is inversion.

Examples:

Who(m) are you talking to?
What did he say?
What are you thinking about?

More on the interrogative form here.

6) The auxiliary verb should

The auxiliary verb should, used as a conditional, expresses recommendations or suggestions.

Examples :

You should talk to him. I recommend that you talk to him.
The employees shouldn’t behave like this. It’s my opinion that the employees behaving like this is not a good idea.
Should I bring something to eat? Would it be a good idea for me to bring something to eat?

Should sometimes expresses probability.

Examples :

Horatio should be in his lab right now. It’s probable, expected or likely that Horatio is in his lab right now.
The results of the vote should satisfy everyone. The results of the vote will probably satisfy everyone.

Should can express duty and obligation, but is less strong than have to and must.

Example :

You should be wearing your seatbelt. You are obliged to wear your seat belt.

For a past action, we use should + ‘have’ + past participle.

Example :

Kalvin Krime should have hired Horatio while he was available.

Should like to allows us to express a wish in a polite way. In informal English, would is more commonly used.

Example :

I should like to visit Uganda one day. I would like to visit Uganda one day.

Note: The auxiliary verb ought to is a synonym of should:
I ought to go = I should go.

Want to know more about should? Click here!

7) The past perfect tense

Also known as the pluperfect tense, the past perfect is formed with had (past of have) + the past participle. It allows us to express an action which occurred before another action, both actions having occurred in the past. It is used to differentiate the order in which past actions occurred.

Examples :

When he had finished his trip around the world, Bruno started the San Francisco-based Delavigne Corporation. Bruno started the San Francisco-based Delavigne Corporation after his world trip (both actions happened in the past).
I had finished my work before my parents went to bed. First I finished my work, then my parents went to bed.
The past perfect can also be used in its progressive form (had been doing sthg) to express an unfinished action at a specific moment of time in the past.

Examples :

Before his car accident, Bruno had been working hard on creating new perfumes.
I had been studying surgery for ten years when I decided to become a clown.

Note: We often see the past perfect in its progressive form used with FOR:

Example :

When Bruno got back to the States, he had been traveling for 7 years.

Click here to know more about the past perfect.

8) The common tenses

The most common tense is the simple present, followed by the simple past and the perfect present. These times can be used in both passive and active voice.

How to express the main tenses in English:

•  The present:
– The present simple, for permanent truths, and habits:
Winter begins December 21st. This happens on the same date every year.
Icarus works from 8 to 6 every day. Icarus always works from 8 to 6.

– The present progressive (be + verb ending in -ing), if the action is in the process of being carried out:
The children are playing in the garden. They are playing in the garden at this moment.
What are you doing? What are you doing right now?

•  The past:
– The past simple (verb + –ed ending, for regular verbs) expresses a completed action:
I finished my homework five minutes ago. I don’t have any more homework to do.
We went to France last summer. We went to France last summer, and then we came back home.

– In the past continuous, the action was in the process of being carried out:
When the boss arrived, I was sleeping on my desk. I was sleeping on my desk at the very moment my boss arrived.

•  The future:
– The future simple, with the auxiliary verb WILL:
Tomorrow I will go and buy stamps.
The train won’t arrive on time.

– The future progressive expresses an ongoing action in the future:
At this time tomorrow, we will be surfing the waves of the Indian ocean.

– The near future, using the expression be going to, expresses an intention, or a conviction:
I am going to call him, I can’t wait anymore. Pass me the telephone!

More on the common tenses here.

9) Infinitive or -ing?

We end this list with a recurring questions: infinitive or -ing?

There are several commonly-used verbs which, when followed by another verb, have special characteristics:

•  Some verbs which are always followed by a verb in the infinitive: to want, to refuse, to seem, to manage…

Examples :

Bruno wants to conclude the negotiations tomorrow.
I refuse to negotiate with terrorists.
This seems to be a waste of my time.
I managed to catch the train.

•  Some verbs which are always followed by a verb in the ing form: to enjoy, to avoid, to consider…

Examples :

I’ll consider hiring your nephew.
Horatio enjoys drinking coconut milk.
Please avoid making silly mistakes.

•  Finally, other verbs can be followed by a verb in the infinitive or a verb in the ing form.

Examples :

I remember writing you an email. I remember having written you an email in the past.
I remember to write you emails weekly. I never forget to write you emails weekly.
I stopped picking flowers. I ceased to pick flowers, I ended the action of picking flowers.
I stopped to pick flowers. I stopped another action (perhaps walking) in order to pick some flowers.

Note: As a general rule, verbs of preference (to like, to love, to hate, to prefer) are followed by a verb in the infinitive if precise actions are being referred to (eg: I hate to end this conversation, but I have to go.), and by a verb in the ing form when permanent tastes are being referred to (eg: I hate ending conversations prematurely.).

Going further with the infinitive or -ing rule here.

10) The auxiliary verb could

One of the trickiest rules in the book. The auxiliary verb could has various uses.

•  Past of can

Examples:

When I was younger, I could walk for miles. When I was younger, I was able to walk long distances.

•  Present Conditional

Examples:

I could stay with her all my life. I would be happy, I would like to stay with her all my life.
He could be here with us if he weren’t abroad all the time. He would be able to be here with us if he weren’t abroad all the time.

•  Possibility: similar to can, but could emphasizes doubt

Examples:

He could be right. Maybe he is right (we are not sure).

•  Politeness

Examples:

Could I have some change please?
Could you pass me the bread please?

More on could here.

We’ve established that understanding grammar is key to understanding any foreign language. But thanks to our online English lessons Gymglish, English grammar tips are easy to learn and retain. Don’t believe us? Find out for yourself.

*Anonymous data collected from our users regarding our English course Gymglish since 2004.

Related articles:

• The 10 most common grammar mistakes in English French speakers make
• The 10 most common grammar mistakes in English Portuguese speakers make
• The 10 most common grammar mistakes in English Spanish speakers make
• The 10 most common grammar mistakes in English Chinese speakers make
• The 10 most common grammar mistakes in English Dutch speakers make